Haitian Invasion of the Dominican Republic

The Haiti Invasion of Dominican Republic was the military invasion and ensuing 22 years occupation of the newly founded Dominican Republic on the eastern side of Hispaniola by Haiti, from February 9, 1822 until February 27, 1844.

Background

Former European colonies

By the late 18th century, the Island of Hispaniola was divided in two European colonies: Saint-Domingue, governed by France; and Santo Domingo governed by Spain.

In the year 1804, following black slave uprisings since 1791, the French colony declared its independence and named their new country "Haiti" (which was how, in some early texts, the island was named by the native Indians before the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World). Their independence was not an easy task, considering that before the uprisings, Haiti was France's most profitable colony, mainly because of the massive exploitation of slaves and the land for sugar cane which was an expensive commodity back in Europe.

Meanwhile, on the east side, composed mainly of Spanish descendants, mulattos and some black slaves, the economy was stagnant, the land (nearly 2/3rds of the island) mainly unexploited and the population count much smaller than from the Haiti side (some accounts by then essayist and politician José Núñez de Cáceres cite the late colony with roughly 80,000 souls; as opposed to Haiti, which was nearing a million former slaves). [Dominican Consulate Cultural Page] . The Dominican republic was declared free and independent of Spain in December 9, 1821 so it could join the Gran Colombia nation that was being formed by Simon Bolivar.

Justification of the invasion

General Boyer, commander-in-chief of Haiti, wouldn't allow a separate nation on Hispaniola, alleging that the land is "one and indivisible".

He was already into negotiations to prevent the attack by fourteen French warships, posted in front of Port-au-Prince; in exchange, France and Haiti settled on that the former would sell the land in exchange of a sum of originally 150 Million Francs (more than twice what France just charged United States for the Louisiana Purchase.)

Invasion

The just newly formed Dominican Republic was at serious disadvantage if it were to prevent the Haitian invasion. Mainly, it currently had no local military forces whatsoever, its population count was 8-10 times less than Haiti, and the economy was stalled.

Haiti, on the other hand, had formidable armed forces, both in skill and sheer size (for such a small land), that had been hardened for nearly 10 years of repelling French soldiers, local colonialists and military insurgents (lesser armed factions). The racial massacres perpetrated in the later days of the French-Haitian conflict only added to the determination of Haitians to never lose a battle.

By February 9, 1822, Boyer and his troops had entered Santo Domingo and received the keys to the city by now destituted president, José Núñez de Cáceres.

Occupation

Curtailed liberties in Santo Domingo

Although the invasion effectively eliminated colonial slavery and instated a Constitution modeled after the United States constitution through the island; in practice, several resolutions and written dispositions where expressly aimed at converting Dominicans into second-rate citizens: Restrictions of movement, prohibition to run public office, night curfews, inability to travel in groups, banning of civilian organizations, and, lastly, the indefinite closure of the state university (on the alleged grounds of it being a subversive organization) all led to the creation of independentist secret organization called "“La Trinitaria”" (The Trinity).

War of Independence

It would take 22 years for the War of Independence ("La Guerra de Independencia") to start, on February 27, 1844, led by Juan Pablo Duarte and the Trinitarios, who was conformed not only by the cultural and monetary elite of the time, but by almost all Dominicans who were fed up by Haitians on their soil.

References

ources

* [http://www.consuladord-ny.org/Historia/History.htm Dominican Consulate Cultural Page]